Signal-telegraph



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-$heet 1.

O. V. BOUGHTON. SIGNAL TELEGRAPH.

Patented Jan. 18,1898.

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U. V. BOUGHTON.

SIGNAL TELEGRAPH.

No. 597,536. Patented Jan. 18,1898.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. V. BOUGHTON. SIGNAL TELEGRAPH.

No. 597,536. Patented Jan. 18,1898.

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(No Model.) Y 4 sheets sheet 4. O. V. BOUGHTON.

SIGNAL TELEGRAPH.

Patented Jan. 18,1898.

UJ|TNE55E53 N I s? 5 H. INVENTUH WW 7 41m UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE.

SIG NAL-TE'LEG RAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,536, dated January18, 1898.

Application filed December 19 1895. Serial No. 572,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beitknown thatLCLAUDIUS V.BOUGHTON, acitizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Telegraphy; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full,

inv detail by the above-named patents consisted of a number of electriclamps arranged in a continuous line, a bed-plate of non-conductingmaterial, a series of spring-pressed metal strips insulated from eachother in such bed-plate and each electrically connected with a separatelamp, and spring-pressed contacting plates operated by separate keys tocomplete the circuits through different groups of the spring-pressedstrips to light the lamps necessary to produce the character desired.

The light-shaft. employed with the aboveoutlined keyboard consisted of arigid shaft in which were secured a number of incandescent lampsarranged closely togetherin a continuous line. In operation ondepressing a certain key electric circuit-s were established whichilluminated lamps in the staff which formed the dots and dashes calledfor by the letter of the key in operation. A dot was formed by lightingone or two lamps and a dash by lighting from six to twelve contiguouslamps, the spaces being formed by nnlighted lamps between the dots anddashes. This form of staff was necessarily bulky in order to securesufficient rigidity for the length required to carry the necessarynumber of lamps.

The object of my present invention with respect to the light-shaft istwofold: first, to provide a shaft much lighter in weight and flexibleto adapt it for easy and quick macial construction of keyboard aboveoutlined in order to reduce to a minimum thenumber of lamps andconnectingwires and the number of operative parts in the keyboardrequired for the purpose, the whole constituting a much more simple andelfective apparatus for signal telegraphy with respect to the nature ofthe shaft, the number of lamps employed thereon, and the number ofoperative parts required in the keyboard.

Another object of my invention is the specific improvement of thekeyboard With respect to the detailed arrangement of the operative partsand their casing, principally to facilitate easy and rapid access to theinterior for the purpose of repairing and renewal 7 5 of parts.

To these ends my invention consists, first, in a signal-telegraphconsisting, essentially,

of two series of lamps of diiferent colors secured alternately upon ashaft, the lamps of one color representing dots and the lamps of theother color representing dashes, a bedplate of non-conducting material,a series of metal strips insulated from each other in such bedplate andeach electrically connected with a separate lamp, and springpressedcontacting plates operated by separate keys to complete the circuitsthrough different groups of the metal strips to light the lampsnecessary to produce the character 35 the wires with-the lamps.

6o ranged.

vided at its lower end with an electric coupling for removably attachingit to the keyboard; fourth, in certain improved'details of constructionin the keyboard and its cas-.

ing, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved keyboardinclosed in its casing. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover of thecasing removed to show operative parts.

1 5 Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the keyboard. Fig. 4 is avertical section of the bottom of the casing and the bed-plate ofnon-conducting material, showing arrangement of metal strips therein.Fig. 5 isa vertical section of easing, showing the rail upon whichcontacting plates are pivoted. Fig. 6 is a detached section detail Viewshowing manner of connecting keys to the cover of the casing. Fig. 7 isanelevation of my im- 2 5 proved hollow flexible light-shaft with singlelamps attached. Fig. Sis an enlarged side elevation of the electriccoupling of the lightshaft. Fig. 9 is a central vertical section of thesame in the line as a: of Fig. 8. Figs. 10

and 11 are interior views of the coupling shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig.12 is asectional view of the upper end of the hollow flexible shaft withattached. swiveled ring. Fig. 13 shows in section the interiorconnection of Fig. 14 is an elevation of my improved hollow flexiblelightshaft, showing the connection thereto of a series of double lampsinclosed in cylindrical casings. Fig. 15 is an enlarged detached ele- 4ovation of the double lamp attached to hollow 5 section of Fig. 17, takenin the linez z; and

Fig. .19 is a side view of the recessed metal ba l rigidly secured tothe shaft and to R'vEch the lamps are removably attached.

Referring to the figures of the drawings from 1 to 6, inclusive, whichillustrate the construction of the keyboard, 1 1 are the metallic sidewalls of the casing, 2 the removable metallic cover, and 3 the bottom,of wood, upon the upper surface of which is secured the metal facing 4,preferably of aluminium.

The preferred dimensions of the casing are thirteen inches inlength,eight inches in depth, and four inches in height, within which all theoperative parts are compactly ar- The legs 5 raise the casing about oneinch from'the surface upon which it is to be secured byfastening-screws.

6 is the bed-plate, of hard rubber or other non-conducting material,which extends nearly the entire length of the casing, in the strips.

a separate key 33, marked by a letter of the I the bolts 7 which passdown through the metal bars 8, which rest in shoulders in the bed-plate6' across the front and rear of the same and also down through thefacing 4 and bottom 3 of the casing, the nuts which removably engagetheir lower ends being counter in the bottom 3. Ina series oflongitudinal recesses in the bed-plate 6 are arranged the thinunyielding strips 9, which rest on the floors of such recesses, theirends projecting alternately from the ends of the bed-plate 6 andconnecting with the binding-posts 10, which pass down through insulatedsockets in the facing 4 and bottom 3, their lower projecting endsunderneath the casing being connected to separate wires 11, which leadto the separate lamps upon the staff. A series of spring-pressed strips12, with the springs 13 upon their lower edge, rests upon the strips 9in the bottom of the recesses, these strips 12 having the bearingprojections 14 at each end thereof. The angular keepers 15, extendingacross the ends of the spring-pressed strips 12, serve to retain themloosely in their re cesses. These keepers 15 are removably secured bythe screws 16, which engage with the metal bars 8 at their ends.

17 17 are two posts secured in and insulated from the facing 4 andbottom 3 of. the casing. 18 is a cross-bar connecting the lower ends ofthese posts and having a sliding extension 19 passing down into aninsulated aperture 20 in the bottom of the casing,in which a connectionis made with a wire through which the return-current passes. 21 isanother cross-bar connecting the upper ends of the posts 17 17. Thiscross-bar is removably secured in sockets in the bars 17 17 by thescrews 22. Upon this upper cross-bar are pivoted a series of levers 22,which extend transversely across the casings, each resting upon one of aseries of leaf-springs 23, secured at intervals across the rail 24,rigid with the facing 4. The forward ends 25 of the levers-22 have avertical play within the recesses 26 in the plate 27, extending acrossthe front of the casing. A cross-strip 28, with open slots 29, adaptedfor removable engagement with the shanks of the screw-posts '30,prevents the levers 22 from riding out of their vertical slots 26.

Each lever 22 has its rear portion extending downward to form acontacting portion or surface which is to be pressed against certain ofthe spring-pressed strips 12 to complete the circuit with certain lampsof the shaft electrically connected with these strips. For instance, thelever shown in Fig. 3 has the two contacting surfaces 31 31, each ofwhich strikes two of the strips 12, and the contacting surface 32, whichstrikes one only of the Each of the levers 22 is depressed by alphabetora numeral. These keys each have a shank 34, with a button 35 at itslower end for contact with its lever 22. The shank 34 is reciprocatedvertically in a socket 36, rigid upon the cover 2, and is prevented fromturning in its socket by a screw 37, which passes through the wall. ofthe socket and extends loosely within a vertical groove 38 in the shank.(See Figs. 3 and 6.) With this improved arrangement the keys are a partof the removable cover, and when the cover is removed for access to theinterior of the casing the keys are carried with it, which is a greatimprovement over my former construction, in which the keys passed downthrough the cover and engaged with the pivoted levers inside the casing,which involved their separate disconnection before the cover could beremoved.

One of the most desirable features in an apparatus of this nature isquick and easy access to the interior for the purpose of renewal andrepair of parts. My improvements have been made partly with this end inview, as will be readily seen, for to gain access, for instance, to thespring-pressed strips 12 the screws 30, which secure the cover 2 inposition, are removed and the cover and attached keys 33 are all takenoff together. The strip 28, with its open slots 29, is next slipped off,which permits the levers 22 to be quickly raised out of the verticalslots 26 and swung over upon their rod 21 until they rest outside of thecasing. In this manner complete access is obtained to the strips 12,which can in turn be quickly taken out by removing the keepers 15 15from the bed-plate,which leaves the under strips 9 free to be detachedfrom their binding-screws 10 upon each side of the casing. 1f thereforeany breakage or mutilation of parts should occur, it would only be amatter of a few moments to effect necessary repairs or replacement ofparts. Then, too, with the substitution of a red light for a series ofwhite lights,as in my former patents, to produce a dash, I am enabled toreduce the number of operative parts to a minimum, thereby reducing thesize,weight, and cost of the key board correspondingly.

Referring to Figs. 7 to 13, inclusive, which illustrate the constructionof one form of my improved light-shaft, 40 is the flexible shaft, whichis preferably hollow, being formed from rubber hose or tubing of threeor more ply. The wires connecting the incandescent lamps 41 pass throughthe interior of the shaft and into the sockets 42, forming a rigid partof the metal bands 43, secured at intervals in the length of the shaft,the lamps being removably secured in the sockets.

44 are the individual wires leading from the strips 9 in the keyboardseparately to sockets lower end of the flexible shaft is provided with adetachable coupling to connect it with the cable of wires leading fromthe keyboard,

of which 48 is a metallic collar in which the end of the flexible staffis secured. The lower end of this collar 48 has the annular enlargement49, to which is pivoted the yoke 50, provided upon its lower cross-piecewith the open slot 51, with the semicircular inner end 52. The annularenlargement 49 is provided with the depending annular flange 53.

54 is a'ring provided with the upper annular shoulder 55,adapted for theremovable reception of the annular flange 53 upon the collar 48, itbeing removably held in such position by the set-screws 5G. The innersurface of the ring 54 is provided at intervals with longitudinalrecesses 57, into which are set insulated wires 58, their upper endsabutting against a Washer 59, of insulating material.

The individual wires 44, leading from the lamps, are extended down andtheir stripped ends are brought into contact with the wires 58 in thering 54, the lower stripped ends 59 projecting down a short distancebelow the disk 60, of insulating material.

The return wire or cable 45 has its lower end inserted in the wall ofthe ring 54. similar ring 61, adapted for insertion in the provided witha series of insulated hollow metal tubes 62, arranged in the inner wallof the ring 61 in a manner similar to the insulated wires 58 in the ring54.

The individual wires 63, leading to the strips 9 in the keyboard, havetheir stripped ends'inserted in the tubes 62, and the return wire orcable 64, leading from the projection 19 in the keyboard, is connectedwith the ring 61 in a manner similar to the return-wire 45.

When the two rings 54 and 61 are coupled together and held in suchposition by the hinged yoke 50, the projecting ends 59 of the wires 58in the ring 54 are forced into the open ends of the insulated tubes 62in the ring 61, which completes the contact of the individual and returnwires from the lamps with the corresponding individual and return wiresfrom the keyboard. In this manner my improved flexible light-shaft canbe instantly coupled or uncoupled with the keyboard, the electricalconnections being simultaneously effected. When not in use, thelight-shaft can be detached and lowered from its position, the lampsremoved, and the staff coiled up and stowed away. The wires and theirconnections being concealed within the the hollow staff are perfectlyprotected from accidental injury and exposure to the weather, and thestaff, being light, can be easily and quickly handled.

In Figs. 15 to 19, inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form offlexible light-shaft adapted for the removable reception of double lampsinclosed within glass shades or lenses. The flexible light-shaft 40 andcoupling 54 61 are identical. with those shown in Figs. 7 to 13,inclusive, the form of the lamps and the manner of their connection tothe shaft 40 being different.

" lower interiorly-shouldered end of ring 54, is

IIO

, which has a conical recess 78.

67 67 are the top andbottom metal rings, and 68 the intermediate metalring, between which the two cylindrical glass shades or lenses '69 areheld by means of the tie-rods 70, which pass through the apertured lugs71.

The intermediate ring 68 and the lower ring 67 are provided with thecentral sockets 72 for the removable reception of the incandeslarprojection 80, in which is secured an insulated-plug S1 with anoutwardly-projecting conical end'82, its inner end extending to theinterior of the flexible staff. To theseinner ends are secured the endsof the individual wires 83, leading to the keyboard. The return-Wire 84passes through the upper ring 85 into electrical contact with the upperring 67 of the lamp-frame. 'By this arrangement the return current fromeach lamp is led by the socket 72 into the metallic frame holding theshades and thence to the upper ring 67- and through the coupling thereinto the main I return-wire 84 within the shaft 40.

Each of the rings 67, 67, and 68 is provided with a sectionallocking-band, of which 86 is the portion rigid with the rings 67, 67,and '68, adapted for the reception of one-half of re cessed ring 7 9 andits rectangular projection, the other portion 87 being semicircular andhinged at one end to the part 86, its other end being removably securedby the locking-pin 88. It willbe seen that the double lamps constructedas shown can be quickly secured in position or disengaged from thestaff, the electrical connections being simultaneously made or broken,as when they are attached the conical projections 82 enter the conicalrecesses 78, thus instantly effecting the electrical connection betweenthe lamps and wires.

The lamps 41 upon the shaft (shown in Fig. 7) are of two colors,preferably white and red, arranged alternately, the white lampsrepresenting dots and the red lamps dashes. With this arrangement I amenabled to represent all of the letters of the alphabet and the numeralsin the necessary dots and dashes with eleven lamps, using a twelfth lampof a dif- The feed-wire 74 passes from these strips andtheirattachedlamps, representing in lighted lamps on the staff the dotsand dashes called for by the letter of the key in operation. on removingthepressure upon the key the levers are forcedu p by the springs 23,the. contacting surfaces 31, 31, and 32 are lifted from the strips 12,the circuit is broken,

and the lamps are extinguished.

The flexible shaft could, if desired, be made solid instead of'hollow,in which case the feed and return wires would be embedded therein.

I claim '1. In a signal-telegraph, the combination with a flexiblelight-shafthaving incandescent lamps thereon, separate feed-wires forsuch lamps, and a common return-wire, all passing through the shaft; ofa coupling carrying wires adapted for connection with those in theshaft, devices in the coupling for making such connection automatically,and a yoke pivoted to one member of the coupling and engaging the otherwhen the members are assembled, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a signal-telegraph,the combination with the bed-plate ofinsulatingmaterial having recesses in its upper face, fixed stripsseated therein, andelectric connections lead ing therefrom; of movablecontact-strips also standingwithin the recesses and having springsbetween them and the fixed strips,

and removable angular keepers extending over the extremities of thecontact-plates, as and for the'purpose set forth.

3. A keyboard for signal-telegraphs consisting essentially of a casinginclosing the contacting strips and plates, one set of which is mountedon spring-pressed levers, a cover for said casing, screws holding itremovably in position thereon, and keys sliding through the cover atpoints to bear upon their respective levers and yet removable with thecover, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:] A keyboard for signal-telegraphs consisting essentially of a casinginclosing the contacting strips and plates, one set of which is mountedon spring-pressed levers, a removable cover for said casing havingsockets through its body with screws in their sides. keys having shankssliding through said sockets and grooved to receive the tips of thescrews, and buttons at the lower ends of the shanks adapted to rest upontheir respective levers when the cover is in position, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. A keyboard for signal-telegraphs consisting essentially of abed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of metal strips insulateoi from each other in such bed-plate, springpressed contactingplates or levers to complete the circuits through different groups ofthe metal strips and keys in the cover of the easing for operating thecontacting plates or levers such keys being separable with the removablecover, from such plates or levers as and-for the purpose stated.

6. A keyboard for signal-telegraphs consistin g essentially of abed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of spring-pressed metalstrips insulated from each other in such bedplate, a series of fixedmetal strips also insulated in such bed-plate and in contact with thespring-pressed meta-l strips, and springpressed contacting plates orlevers operated by separate keys to complete the circuits throughdiiferent groups of the two series of metal strips.

7. A keyboard for signal-telegraphs consisting essentially of abed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of spring-pressed metalstrips insulated from each other in such bedplate, a series of fixedmetal strips also insulated in such bed-plate and in contact with thespring-pressed strips, spring-pressed contacting plates or levers tocomplete the circuits through different groups of the two series ofmetal strips and keys in the cover of the casing for operating thecontacting plates or levers, such keys being separable with theremovable cover, from such plates or levers, as and for the purposestated.

8. In a signal-telegraph the combination with the removable cover 2 andthe keys 33 vertically movable therein, of the levers 22, pivoted uponthe cross-rod 21, the springs 23, the slotted plate 26, 27, and theremovable strip 28 with the open slots 29 all combined and operating asand for the purpose stated.

9. The hereiadescribed electric coupling comprising a shaft in twoparts, one return and several individual wires therein; on one part acollar 48 having an annular enlargement 49 provided with a flange 53, aring 54 having a shoulder 55 receiving said flange, set-screws 56through the flange against the ring, the return-wire 45 beingelectrically connected with said ring, and a series of wires 58 carriedby but insulated from the ring and connected with the individual wires44; and on the other part a similar ring 61 fitting the open end of thefirst ring, also electrically connected with. its own return-wire, andcarrying a series of members 62 connected with its own individual wires63 and adapted to contact with the wires '58 when the parts of thecoupling are assembled, as set forth.

10. The herein-described electric coupling comprising a shaft in twoparts, and one return and several feed wires in each; on one part acollar 48 provided with a flange 53, a ring 54 receiving said flange,the return-wire 45 being electrioallyconnected with this ring, and aseries of wires 58 carried by but insulated from the ring and connectedwith the individual wires 44, their lower ends 59 being stripped; and onthe other part a similar ring 61 fitting the open end of the first ring,also electrically connected with its return-wire,

and carrying a series of tubes 62 connected with its individual wires 63and adapted to receive the stripped ends 59 of the wires 58 when theparts of the coupling are assembled, as set forth.

11. In an electric coupling, the combination with one part having anannular enlargement 49, and a ring 54E carried thereby and containingthe terminals of the line-wires; of the other part carrying a similarring 61, a yoke 50 pivoted to thesides of said enlargement and having inits cross-piece an open slot 51 with a semicircular inner end 52 adaptedto embrace the second part of the coupling behind its ring, as and forthe purpose set forth.

12. In a signal-telegraph, the combination with a light-shaft carryingfeed and return wires; of a glass shade, top and bottom rings betweenwhich it is held, a locking-band on each ring comprising a portion 86rigid therewith, a second portion 87 hinged to the first so that theyare adapted to surround said light-shaft, and a locking-pin removablyconnecting them opposite the hinge; an electric lamp within the shade,and connections between the lamp and the wires in the shaft, as and forthe purpose set forth.

13. In a signal-telegraph, the combination with a light-shaft carryingfeed and return wires, and recessed rings '79 on said shaft, each havinga projection containing an insulated plug 81 with a conical outer end 82and its inner end connected with one wire; of an electric lamp inclosedwithin a globe, horizontal sockets 76 in the globe-frame, insulatedplugs therein with conical recesses 78 in their outer ends, wires 74leading from the lamp to the plugs, an d means for attaching the globeframe to the light-shaft, as set forth.

14:. In a signahtelegraph, the combination with a light-shaft carryingtwo wires, and re cessed rings 79 secured to said shaft, each having aplug 81 insulated through it and connected with one wire; of a glassshade held in a metallic frame, an electric lamp within the shade, alamp-socket therefor in electrical connection with the frame, sockets inthe latter receiving said plugs, an insulated plug in one socketcontacting with that on the ring and connected with the lamp, andlocking bands carried by the frame for removable attachment within therecesses of the rings, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLAUDIUS V. BOUGHTON.

Witnesses: I

W. T. MILLER, F. P. KLUSTON.

